Exile to the Stars (The Alarai Chronicles) (68 page)

“There
she is!”

Helwin
was holding up a wounded comrade, at the same time trying to hold off two
assailants. Berold moved in a sullen flash of dull orange. Wrenching it out of
the Salchek’s chest, teeth bared in a snarl, Jeff whirled on the remaining
Salchek. He was on the ground. Balko shook him a last time and released his
jaws.

The
wounded warrior slipped from Helwin’s grip and slumped to the ground. Helwin
was so spent she could do no more than gasp for breath with hands on knees.
Jeff got the man to his feet, sent Balko ahead to find the way, and they
staggered off toward the horses.

“Are
you wounded, Helwin?”

“No,
Captain, but we must leave soon.”

“That’s
not quick enough. If we’re caught in the cavalry battle, we’re dead!”

The
sounds of battle seemed more distant when they located their horses and the
picket guards. The wounded trooper proved able to sit a horse when Helwin boosted
him into the saddle.

“That’s
it, we’re out of here. Mount up!”

Warriors
were reeling from fatigue when they made it back to camp, and not only from the
raid. The forest was alive with Salchek and Alemanni units locked in battle or
looking for one another. On one occasion they had been forced to intervene in a
battalion-sized brawl in order to rescue an Alemanni unit on the verge of being
annihilated. Jeff was desperate to find Gurthwin and get a situation report on
the battle.

Inside
the compound, all was confusion. Individuals and groups of blood-covered
warriors staggered out of the forest, even as fresh contingents pulled up from
the reserve force headed out double-time singing battle songs. Warriors
carrying wounded comrades to the first aid station called for assistance, where
cries of agony under the knife rose above everything.

Dismissing
the troops, Jeff wearily climbed down from Cynic in front of the meeting hall
only to bounce off Helwin again. Too tired to argue, he gestured for her to follow
him inside since he knew she would anyway. Gurthwin was talking with a
chieftain, so Jeff collapsed onto a bench and Helwin did likewise. He pointed a
grimy finger at her.

“You
want to make sure I don’t fall over my own feet, eh? Good. You are now my
aide-de-camp. That means you get to do all the dirty work.”

Helwin
was leaning back with elbows resting on the trestle table. Too tired for words,
she grinned lopsidedly and raised an arm in acknowledgment. When the chieftain
left, Jeff gave Gurthwin a chance to take a drink of water before moving to his
table. Helwin was uncertain whether she should do the same.

“Join
us, Helwin. From now on, wherever I go, you go.” Jeff waved a hand vaguely in
Helwin’s direction as she sat down. “Meet Helwin, my new self-appointed aide.
How do matters fare?”

Gurthwin
smiled briefly and poured tankards of water for each of them. “What I have
heard to this time is incomplete, but perhaps enough to draw some conclusions
from. As we hoped, Halric’s attack achieved complete surprise. The Salchek
response, however, was most vigorous and in larger force than we had
anticipated. Thus Halric’s retreat was more real than deceptive.”

Jeff
was so upset he fell back on English. “But they did make it to the forest,
right?”

While
teaching Jeff the Alemanni tongue, Gurthwin had picked up English. “Be at rest.
Yes, they did succeed in winning the forest.”

“Thank
God!”

“Indeed,
let us thank the gods. I believe the Salchek are furious to offset the
humiliating losses they experienced on the grasslands and seek to destroy
Halric. Although it is not clear how many soldiers the Salchek have committed
to this point, I believe it to be in excess of four thousands.”

“In
excess? Jesus!”

Gurthwin
sat up and stared at Jeff. “I have come to understand only a small portion of
this man’s life and works from our talks, but enough that I will not tolerate
hearing his name used in this fashion.”

Jeff
felt like he had been slapped in the face, but bowed. “I will not do so again.
Please forgive me.”

“You
are tired, overwrought, and I do, but never assume that such usage goes
unheard.” Gurthwin settled his elbows back on the table. “The second force of
warriors that lay in waiting fell on the Salchek to good effect, yet still our
numbers were too few. It has been a difficult day, Jeffrey. Throughout the
balance of the morning the enemy commander has continued to push new soldiers
into the fray, forcing Halric to draw heavily on those held in reserve. Our
plan has succeeded beyond expectation. I fear the battle is in question.”

“How
many remain in reserve?”

Consulting
a scrap of parchment, Gurthwin muttered, “Two hundreds remain in camp.”

“That’s
the same as nothing! All of them must be sent out at once. Have the wolves
come?”

Gurthwin’s
expression brightened at once. “Indeed they have. Again the reports are
undoubtedly misleading, but a number of packs appear to have joined our effort.
Reports of their ferocity in battle have greatly strengthened our warriors, and
must be sowing terror among the enemy.”

Jeff
turned to Helwin. “Rather than my aide-de-camp, I’m appointing you lieutenant.
Take charge of our unit, demonstrate leadership, and it’s yours to keep.
Understood?”

Tired
though she was, Helwin jumped to her feet. “I will not fail you, Captain!”

“You
have my confidence. Assemble those who are fit from our night’s work. We leave
for the battle at once. Insure that all are well-mounted and have provisions
for one night.”

Helwin
ran from the hall with a wide grin on her face.

Jeff
watched her go with a weary shake of his head. “Ah, youth.”

Gurthwin
was pouring a tankard of water. At Jeff’s comment, he started shaking so hard
that water splashed all over the table.

“And
you barely into manhood to speak of youth!”

He
thumped the jug down, spilling more, and broke into rasping laughter. Bending a
sour look on Gurthwin, Jeff poured them both a round and had to smile himself.

When
he felt able to walk without the risk of tripping over a crack in the floor,
Jeff left to join Helwin. An hour or so later he inspected the forty warriors
assembled. The troops were hollow-eyed, but also exchanging war stories and
kidding each other. This bunch still has some fight left in them, Jeff thought
with approval.

“We
will work together much as we did while returning to camp. You have learned
something of mounted warfare, now you will learn more. Any warrior who leaves
to pursue his own course will no longer be welcome.” Jeff waved Helwin forward.
“I have appointed Helwin to be your lieutenant. Her commands are mine.”

Jeff
wasn’t sure what to make of the silence that followed his announcement.
However, there was work to be done and he mounted up. Helwin would take charge
or he would find someone else.

“Move
them out, Lieutenant.”

Those
were familiar words to Cynic, and he trotted toward the access road. Jeff did
not look back but heard Helwin call out commands. Shortly the troop closed up
behind. Balko absolutely refused to be left in camp because of his wound and
ranged ahead.

They
were moving cautiously through a thick stand of trees when Balko called an
eager warning. Jeff halted the troop and eased Cynic ahead until the trees
thinned. Thirty or forty Salchek were moving laterally in light brush and
trees. There they are, he thought, and here we go. Good thing they aren’t
mounted. This bunch is not ready to take on a cavalry unit.

There
was no room or time to array his troop for a proper charge. Jeff pulled his
sword and held it up. He heard an immediate rustle of weapons. Now! Jeff let
his sword fall, thumped Cynic with his heels and bellowed a war cry.

The
troop crashed out of the trees and fell on the Salchek foot soldiers like
thunder, riding them down before turning to finish the job with swords and
spears. When the skirmish was finished, Jeff collected his unit.

“Any
questions? No?” He eyed them silently for a moment. “You cavalry or foot?”

The
term cavalry was new to the Alemanni, but they had it figured out. The troop
roared, “Cavalry!” Jeff nodded and nudged Cynic into motion.

Throughout
the afternoon and well into a late summer evening, they fought the Salchek.
Jeff tried to locate Halric but failed, the melee swirling through the great
forest in a confused series of small-unit engagements. Time and again they
aided Alemanni forces that were outnumbered and made the difference, then moved
on. They ambushed Salchek forces and destroyed them, only to be taken by
surprise and nearly overwhelmed.

By
late dusk they were unable to locate more of the enemy in spite of Balko’s
determined efforts. Jeff moved his troop into a thick stand of trees and had
them dismount. Several of those that had been wounded slipped from their
saddles and fell to the ground. Others hurried to help but could hardly walk.
Ten warriors had died in battle, the rest were nearing the end of their
strength. Jeff walked far enough away so he could listen. The forest was silent
except for the occasional birdcall.

“That’s
it. One way or the other, it’s done.”

Returning
to the troop, Jeff waved Helwin over. “We’re going to camp here for the night.
That means you have to set up what’s called a duty roster. Assign groups of
four to guard duty, and replace them every three hours with another group. You
can figure it out.”

Helwin
nodded wearily. “Yes, sir.”

When
she had made her decisions, Helwin gathered the troop around her and called out
assignments. Angry protests rang out at once and a warrior pushed through the
crowd to confront Helwin.

It
was Elke. Jeff remembered her name because he had been plagued all day by her
refusal to stay with the unit. She was the only trooper he planned to separate.
While shorter than Helwin, Elke was built like a power lifter. Jeff backed away
and watched to see what would develop.

“You
will give no commands to me.” Elke moved closer until she was nose to nose with
Helwin. “I will fight and rest as I choose. Go lick your mother’s pap.”

Elke
was from a neighboring village, some years older, and had bullied Helwin at
every meeting since she was a girl. Helwin was undecided for only a moment. It
had been a very long day. She brought her left fist up and around with every
bit of force left in her shoulders. It landed on the side of Elke’s face with a
sharp crack that sounded like wood hitting wood. Spit flew, Elke’s head
swiveled on her shoulders, and she crumpled to the ground. Helwin winced and
shook her hand, but did so while calling out the rest of the assignments

Holy
shit! Jeff thought. I’ve seen that left cross before! She most certainly is
related to Magda.

When
Helwin was through handing out guard duty, she recalled something Jeff was
prone to shout.

“Dismissed!”

This
is it, Jeff thought. Either it flies or it doesn’t.

No
one said a word. The first shift picked up weapons and left to take up their
watch. At that moment Jeff knew his unit had a top gun.

Chilled
by the night air, Jeff awoke early and rolled out of his blankets. He
immediately stumbled over Helwin, who was bedded down close by. One step and he
nearly fell over Balko curled up at his feet.

“Damnation!”

Helwin
looked up, bleary-eyed.

“Let’s
get them on their feet and fed, Lieutenant.”

Breakfast
consisted of no more than cold venison, and it wasn’t long before the troop was
saddled up. It took Jeff some time to get oriented, and a longer period of
cautious travel before he was convinced the battle was indeed over. He had no
idea who had prevailed. It was entirely possible that neither side had. They
entered camp ready for trouble.

Even
though the day was well along, all was quiet. Smoke from numerous campfires
coiled lazily into a clear sky, and walkways were deserted except for the
occasional warrior moving about on an urgent mission. The noise and clamor were
gone as exhausted survivors slept the day away.

“At
least the camp was not overrun,” Jeff muttered with relief. He called a halt at
the meeting hall. “You are warriors all. I am proud to be your commander. This
unit will continue. All who wish to remain a part of it must speak with
Lieutenant Helwin. Now it is time for rest and food.”

Following
dismissal the entire troop immediately clustered around Helwin. Shamefaced but
determined, Elke elbowed her way to the front. Helwin glanced at Jeff for
direction. He did no more than indicate it was her decision. When Helwin
accepted Elke by clasping arms, Jeff nodded agreement. Elke had insisted on
standing the last two watches of the night and had stuck to the unit like glue
all morning.

Entering
the hall, Jeff was relieved to see Halric slumped over a table on his elbows
conferring with Gurthwin. That was a good sign they had prevailed or at least
come out even. He had a bandage wrapped around his head, but otherwise seemed
uninjured. Halric smile hugely when he spotted Jeff.